I have a problem where I could really use some advice--or at least put my qualms on the record.
I have been talking about ITAR with some of my friends after one of them brought it up citing this horror story. <http://www.globaltradeexpertise.com/news_files/category-itar.php>http://www.globaltradeexpertise.com/news_files/category-itar.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Traffic_in_Arms_Regulations Another friend relates that you can get into trouble for accepting a piece of Russian space hardware into the US for an exhibit. When the guy returned it after the exhibit the State Dept told him that act was an "export". Then another guy was told he'd be charged under ITAR if he told the Russians working on his satellite launch that they could go to a particular US textbook to find out how to do a reliability analysis. One of my friends thinks my concept work on reducing the cost of materials transport by sub orbital rocket and multi GW propulsion laser would not cause me any trouble even if I went on a lecture tour about it in China. Others think I would be arrested and jailed for decades like the retired professor if I talked about it in China. A propulsion laser able to lift 100 tonnes/hr to GEO is unavoidably a weapon and counter weapon. I make an economic case for building it for non-military reasons, but it's definitely "dual use." The energy problem is world wide so solving it anywhere solves it everywhere. I am on record as saying I think the Chinese are more likely to build power sats than the US. (Then the US could import electric power, synthetic crude oil *and* lead painted toys from China.) The reason this has become urgent is that I have been invited to this military conference on space based solar power next week. <http://www.upcomingevents.ctc.com/sbsp/sbsp.html>http://www.upcomingevents.ctc.com/sbsp/sbsp.html I would love to go. I have a lot of the physics and engineering at my fingertips. <http://htyp.org/Dollar_a_gallon_gasoline>http://htyp.org/Dollar_a_gallon_gasoline http://htyp.org/Penny_a_kWh <http://htyp.org/Hundred_dollars_a_kg>http://htyp.org/Hundred_dollars_a_kg The conference is open to US citizens only. What agreements are required, I don't know. It seems a shame to give up on a possible solution to the energy problems, but I really don't want to spend more time in jail. I don't know what to do. Keith Henson _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
